IMPACT OF WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

An Undergraduate Activity No. 1 Submitted to the Faculty of the

Institute of Engineering and Applied Technology,

Bulacan Agricultural State College,

San Ildefonso, Bulacan

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for

ENVISE 101 – Environmental Engineering Bachelor of

Science in Geodetic Engineering

EUGENIO, HEAVEN S.

ENGR. JERRY JAMES EDUCANO

Instructor I

DECEMBER 4, 2024
INTRODUCTION

Plastic pollution has become an overwhelming environmental issue, infiltrating all

compartments of the environment—air, water, and soil. A major driver of this pollution is the
widespread use of plastic packaging in the food industry, especially for products such as dairy,
meat, fish, and beverages, including mineral water. The interaction between food and plastic
packaging almost always leads to the transfer of substances between the container and its
contents. As a result, food quality is compromised due to contamination from these packaging
materials, which can alter the nutritional properties of the food and raise safety concerns for
consumers (Ziani, K., 2023).

Among the most pressing environmental challenges posed by plastic pollution is the
pervasive presence of microplastics in marine ecosystems. Every year, an estimated 8 million
metric tons of plastic enter the ocean, of which 236,000 tons are microplastics (Jambeck, 2015).
This figure equates to one garbage truck of plastic being dumped into the ocean every minute
(Pennington, 2016). Marine animals, ranging from tiny plankton to massive whales, inevitably
ingest plastic particles, either through feeding or through their gills while breathing. This results
in significant harm to marine life, including reduced feeding efficiency, poisoning, and
increased mortality rates. Furthermore, microplastics act as carriers for toxic chemicals, which
can travel up the food chain and ultimately present risks to human health.

Microplastics are extremely persistent in the environment, making them difficult to

remove once they enter natural systems. These particles have been discovered in various
locations—from the depths of the ocean to mountain peaks, sea ice, and even the air, drinking
water, and human bodies. Studies show that over 100 animal species have ingested plastic
particles, with larger marine creatures, such as baleen whales, manta rays, and basking sharks,
suffering the most, as they consume vast quantities of plankton that often contain microplastics.

The severity of the issue is compounded by the presence of harmful chemicals in

plastics, such as plasticizers, which can disrupt hormonal systems and impair fertility. In some
extreme cases, these chemicals cause male animals to develop female reproductive organs,
further threatening the survival of various species. Scientists have raised alarms about the
expanding scale of this problem, warning that it is growing out of control (ClientEarth, 2021).

OBJECTIVES
• To discuss strategies for reducing plastic pollution in marine environments
• To examine the long-term environmental persistence of microplastics in terrestrial
ecosystems
• To assess the potential of alternative activities in reducing plastic use in food packaging

PROBLEMS AND ISSUES

Microplastics, which have a diameter of up to five millimeters, are released into the
ocean by a variety of causes, including the decomposition of marine plastic trash, plumbing
runoff, production facility leaks, and more. Microplastics have both toxic and mechanical
impacts when consumed by marine life, including fish, birds, animals, and plants. These effects
can result in reduced food intake, asphyxia, behavioral abnormalities, and genetic alteration.
Among concerns are environmental persistence, damage to marine life, ecosystem disruption,
human health effects, and cleanup challenges.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES

According to Baker, E., Thygesen, K. (2022) plastic is becoming ubiquitous, being
found everywhere scientists look for it. These tiny particles are a major contributor to the human
intake of plastic up to 22,000,000 microplastic and nanoplastics annually with this number
expected to rise. To combat this the paper recommends that the combined “cocktail” effect of
plastic as a multifaceted problem in the air, water, and on land, that legally binding measures
are needed immediately to combat this growing problem, and all solutions must address the full
life cycle of plastics. Plastic is a problem, but the harm to the human body can be limited with
swift and decisive action.

According to Ragusa et al., (2021). There are roughly 10,500 chemicals in plastics,
24% of which are capable of accumulating in humans and animals and are toxic or carcinogenic.
In the United States, the European Union, and Japan, more than half of the chemicals are not
regulated. Over 900 of these potentially toxic chemicals are approved in these countries for use
in plastic food containers. Of the 10,000 chemicals, 39% of them were not able to be categorized
because of a lack of “hazard classification.” The toxicity is both a marine and public health
crisis considering the sheer volume of plastic pollution.

As plastic degrades it is broken down into smaller and smaller pieces that may be
ingested by both animals and humans. Researchers found that ingesting nano-plastics affect the
composition and diversity of human intestinal microbiome communities and may affect the
reproductive, immune, and endocrine nervous system. While up to 90% of plastic that is
ingested is excreted quickly, the last 10% – usually smaller particles of nano-plastic – may
penetrate cell walls and cause harm by inducing cytotoxicity, arresting cell cycles, and
increasing expression of immune cells reactivity at the onset of inflammatory reactions, The
Plastic Soup Foundation. (2022).

According to Muncke, J. (2019), There isn’t just one plastic polymer or compound,
there are thousands of compounds found in plastic products using in the food chain, and
relatively little is known about most of their effects on human health. Some chemicals used in
food packaging and other food plastics can cause reproductive dysfunction, asthma, neonatal
and infant brain damage, and other neurodevelopmental issues.
Plastic acts like a magnet to methylmercury (mercury), that plastic is then consumed
by prey, which humans then consume. Methylmercury both bioaccumulates within the body,
meaning it never leaves but instead builds up over time, and biomagnifies, meaning the effects
of methylmercury are stronger in predators than prey, Cox et al., (2019).
The 2021 report by the United Nations Environment Programme and Azul, an
environmental Justice non-governmental organization, calls for increased recognition of
communities on the frontlines of plastic waste and their inclusion in the local decision-making.
It is the first international report to connect the dots between environmental justice and the
marine plastic pollution crisis. Plastic pollution disproportionately affects marginalized
communities living in close proximity to both plastic production and waste sites. Further,
plastic threatens the livelihoods of those who work with marine resources and those that
consume seafood with toxic micro-and nano- plastics. Framed around humanity, this report
could set the stage for international policies to gradually eliminate plastic pollution and
production, Creshkoff, R., & Enck, J. (2022)
Refe:

SOLUTIONS

Since plastic began to be used extensively in the 1950s, billions upon billions of
microplastics tiny pieces of plastic that are less than 5 mm across have sadly found their way
into the world's oceans. Their tiny size makes them difficult to deal with; they are either
produced by the breakdown of larger pieces of plastic waste or shed from our clothing, tires,
and other plastic products. Numerous scientific studies have shown that microplastics are
extremely harmful to marine ecosystems, killing fish and seabirds that inadvertently consume
them, and may even have an impact on human health. Researchers and innovators are thinking
about how to address this problem. These potential remedies seek to address the widespread
presence of microplastics.
1. Capturing fibers shed from tires

Even some of the collected leftover debris can be recycled and used to make new tires.
Reducing the amount of microplastic pollution in the environment requires capturing the fibers
that tires shed. Tiny fibers released by tire wear have the potential to contaminate soil, water,
and air, harming wildlife and ecosystems. To stop these fibers from entering the environment,
technologies such as water treatment filters, rubberized pavements, and roadside filtration
systems are being developed. Fiber shedding can also be minimized by proactively enhancing
tire design and material quality. These initiatives seek to safeguard wildlife, avoid resource
contamination, and lessen the negative effects of tire wear on the environment.

2. A liquid that removes microplastics from water

An 18-year-old from West Cork, Ireland named Fionn Ferreira won the 2019 Google
Science Fair prize for his incredible creation, a liquid that can filter out microplastics from
water. Usually, a liquid that extracts microplastics from water contains substances or solutions
that draw in and hold onto microplastic particles. Magnetic nanoparticles, which adhere to
plastics and are extracted with a magnet, are used in one technique. A different strategy uses
coagulants or flocculants, which make microplastics aggregate for simpler filtration.
Microplastics are also encapsulated in surfactants and polymers to facilitate their removal.
These technologies are a component of continuous initiatives to lessen water contamination
from microplastics.

3. A massive ocean cleanup machine

Dutch scientists used a massive floating device to try to clean up the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch, a trash island three times the size of France that lies between California and
Hawaii. A massive 600-meter (2,000-foot) free-floating boom that passively gathers plastic
particles that are carried into it by currents is the centerpiece of the Ocean Cleanup project. The
Ocean Cleanup project collects and concentrates plastic waste using a network of nets and
floating barriers. In order to move through the water and effectively collect debris, these
machines are frequently propelled by natural forces, such as ocean currents. After being caught,
the plastic is taken ashore for disposal or recycling.

4. Phythoremediation

Using plants to extract, break down, or contain contaminants from soil, water, or air is
known as phytoremediation. Through their roots, leaves, or stems, phytoremediation plants can
absorb pollutants such as pesticides, petroleum products, and heavy metals. Phytoextraction
(the absorption of pollutants into plant tissues), phytodegradation (the breakdown of pollutants
within plant cells), and phytostabilization (the immobilization of contaminants in the soil) are
some of the processes by which the process operates. One economical and sustainable way to
clean up contaminated areas is through phytoremediation. It is applied to locations where
dangerous materials have been found, and it can eventually aid in reestablishing the health of
the ecosystem.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

The various solutions being explored to combat microplastic pollution hold great
potential in making significant impacts around environmental, ecological, and health aspects.
These technologies, which are focused on capturing fibers shed from tires, can reduce pollution
by hindering these microplastics from reaching soils, waters, and air, protecting the wildlife,
and conserving resources via recycling efforts. These include innovative-liquid solutions
tailored toward filtering water from microplastics and improved water quality in aquatic
ecosystems as well as human health while increasing society's awareness of this significant
challenge. An excellent example of such a proactive initiative is the Ocean Cleanup, which
promises to reduce debris in oceans for the recovery of their ecosystems and biodiversity,
through the removal of harmful plastics from regions such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Phytoremediation presents another green technology that cleans up contaminated sites using
plants that absorb or break down pollutants, which additionally embodies healthier
environments and at much lower costs. Collectively, they do not only intend to reduce
microplastic impacts but also promote better understanding towards environmental stewardship
with innovative solutions towards the health of this planet. Ecosystems can recover and thrive,
hosting healthier habitats for wildlife and richer biodiversity. Also, such solutions generally
tend to be more cost-effective and sustainable in comparison to traditional methods of pollution
remediation. Public health benefits when this happens as environmental contamination
decreases the chances of harmful substances being ingested into the food chain and thereby
causing detrimental health effects among humans. Over time, this contributes to long-term
environmental.

CONCLUSION

A loose, noninstitutionalized network of organizations with different levels of

formality, as well as individuals and groups without organizational affiliation, that are acting
collectively out of a sense of identity or concern for environmental issues can be referred to as
an environmental movement (The Blackwell Companion to Social Movements, 2004).
Research on microplastics has progressed to the point where it is indisputable that both humans
and animals are exposed to tiny plastic particles on a large scale. Guidance on setting limits for
microplastics in food, drinking water, and the environment is therefore becoming more and
more necessary. Although research has demonstrated the potential impact of microplastics, it
frequently fails to offer definitive information for risk evaluations. This discussion draws
attention to the critical research gaps that must be filled in order to fully comprehend the threats
that microplastics represent to human health and the biota. In order to advise policymakers on
how to establish precise health-based criteria, this knowledge is essential.

RECOMMENDATION

The primary purpose of this discussion was to identify and characterize the harmful
effects of microplastics and some possible solutions to be implemented. The monitoring,
regulatory, public awareness and education, and waste management systems should be led by
the government. To enhance next risk assessments, a more accurate assessment of microplastic
exposure is required. Future research should focus on assessing microplastic exposures so that
a thorough exposure analysis using all pertinent sources may be carried out. More accurate
assessments of the threats that microplastics may present to people will be possible with a
thorough grasp of exposure for both.
 REFERENCES

Baker, E., Thygesen, K. (2022, August 1). Plastic in Agriculture- An Environmental Challenge.
Foresight Brief. Early Warning, Emerging Issues and Futures. United Nations
Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/resources/emerging-issues/plastics-
agriculture-environmental-challenge

ClientEarth. (2021, March 1). Microplastics: what are they and why are they problem.
Www.clientearth.org. https://www.clientearth.org/latest/news/microplastics-what-are-
they-and-why-are-they-a-problem/
Cox, K., Covrenton, G., Davies, H., Dower, J., Juanes, F., & Dudas, S. (2019, June 5). Human
Consumption of Microplastics. Environmental Science & Technology. 53(12), 7068-
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Creshkoff, R., & Enck, J. (2022, September 23). The Race to Stop a Plastics Plant Scores a
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race-to-stop-a-plastics-plant-scores-a-crucial-win/
Microplastics: Barely visible, but anything but harmless. (2022, April 25). OceanCare.
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Ragusa, A., Svelatoa, A., Santacroce, C., Catalano, P., Notarstefano, V., Carnevali, O., Papa,
F., Rongioletti, M., Baioccoa, F., Draghia, S., D’Amorea, E., Rinaldod, D., Matta, M.,
& Giorgini, E. (2021, January). Plasticenta: First Evidence of Microplastics in Human
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Science History Institute. (2024). History and Future of Plastics. Science History Institute.
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The Plastic Soup Foundation. (2022, April). Plastic: The Hidden Beauty Ingredient. Beat The
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